June 4, 1993
Dear Everyone:
20 years ago last week, I started working for the “Galluping XXX Company
of California”. I honestly never
expected them to hire me. I just
filled out an application to shut Dad up.
He kept asking me, "Hey, kid! When
are you going to go out and start looking for a job?"
But somebody in the Employment Office noticed the word "Anthropology" on
the application and they were on the lookout for anthropologists that
day and that got me an interview and that got me a job.
Why anthropology? Because, like
geology and biology, the “xxx” industry regards anthropology as an Earth
Science. You see, it's impossible
to get a degree in anthropology without knowing about paleontology and
stratigraphic geology. And micro
paleontology and stratigraphic geology are the heart and backbone of xxx
“exploitation”. And besides, I
figured, this won't last long, just until something better falls into my
lap.
20 years later, yesterday in fact, I had my "pin luncheon", so-called
because of the tradition of presenting 10 year veterans with a gold tie
pin in the shape of a little Company logo.
After quite some time, somebody
noticed that there were women working for the company and that, as a
general rule, most women don't wear ties all that often.
So the "good ol’ boys" added a
gold bracelet or necklace with little Logo’s on them.
More recently, they've cut the number of years before you receive a
"service award" to one, then every five years after that;
and they've added a lot more variety to the little logo’s.
They even let you choose your own
award from a brochure. I selected
a lovely carriage clock, with a charming set of chimes.
In fact, before he brought it to
the restaurant, “Ken” put a battery in it and set the clock, which
chimed merrily every quarter-hour all through the luncheon.
In addition to the clock, which
was the official gift from Company, several people brought me presents,
which are always welcome! And,
because you can't wear a carriage clock, I also got another little
Company Pin, this time with diamonds.
In other news…
“Jeannie” and I went to the movies last week.
It was her turn to pay; but I
went ahead and bought the popcorn. The
movie was Cliffhanger.
The most important thing about a thriller is that the audience
has to be able to identify with the people in the movie.
I've been a passenger on a plane.
Even if I hadn't, there's always
the possibility that I might write in a plane in the future.
I know people who have been on
planes. Therefore, I can relate
to airline disaster films beginning with
From Here to Eternity and
going all the way through
Airplane!
Ditto for airport disasters.
I go swimming. I could be eaten
by a shark.
I work in a high-rise building. We
could have a fire, earthquake, bombing, or be taken over by terrorists.
(In fact, our building is
regularly taken over by terrorists. We
call them Maintenance.)
Now, getting back to Cliffhanger.
Could I identify with someone who
for the fun of it, chooses to climb a piece of rock roughly 30 feet wide
and 4000 feet high? Are they
having snowball fights in Hell yet? Granted,
they found the largest naturally occurring phallic symbol in all of
northern Italy; but just what
exactly are they trying to prove by climbing it?
This story, the usual good guys outnumbered by bad guys, takes place in
the Colorado Rockies; but, for reasons best known to the producer, it
was filmed in Italy. Consequently,
the closing credits look a lot like a menu from an Italian restaurant.
(Gee, everything looks so good!)
However, if you like mountains, or even "just" hiking, you'll like this
movie. If you like
Sylvester
Stallone, you'll love this movie. If
you're into bone-crunching blood-and-guts suspense, you'll enjoy
yourself immensely. If you like
stunning cinematography and wondering how in the world they managed that
camera angle, you'll have a great time. And
if you do decide to see this one, go to the
theater, because this is one
movie that has to be seen on a big screen.
Reminder: Ashland is only three
weeks away.
Love, as always,
Pete
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